Should Healthcare be provided through the Government?

Adequate healthcare remains one of the most important needs of any nation.  This is because the provision of proper healthcare ensures a healthy workforce that uses its entire potential to strive to attain economic prosperity. Education and security are the other basic needs which have to be satisfied. As such, this article seeks to analyse reasons as to why healthcare should be provided through the government. Provision of healthcare through the government enables  the government to assess and analyse the statistics on various diseases and illnesses. Through the analysis of such statistics, the government is able to enact viable policies aimed at alleviating and controlling the spread of these diseases. It also helps the government to know which areas are severely affected and what measures us be taken to prevent the recurrence of disease(s). Alternatively, statistics on epidemiology serves to provide the government priorities on areas in need for more research. In the long term, statistics on disease manifestation, epidemiology and spread of disease is important for educational purposes. These statistics are also vital towards providing relevant information to the public for their knowledge.

The government, through its relevant health bodies, is charged with the responsibility of developing mechanisms to provide healthcare. As such, it is able to liaise with other countries and relevant bodies for support and funds. Intergovernmental departments also work in collaboration in order to provide effective service. This machinery is only possible through the government.  The government is responsible for tabling necessary bills on healthcare in parliament for approval. As such, it is the only viable source to implement healthcare systems in comparison to the private sector.  It is also the government with the capacity to call for international aid in cases of the health catastrophe.

The government through its ministries and intergovernmental departments has developed viable programs for children, women and elderly towards sustaining healthcare. Such programs require sufficient funding that is provided by the government. These programs are aimed at providing healthcare services and medication to the citizens. (Berwick 86). The viability of these programs depends on the structural frameworks and the effectiveness of the systems set up by the government.  Healthcare has always been an essential aspect and profit motives are not that which should operate this sector. This is the reason healthcare should be provided by the government and not private organisations. This is the reason Obama has been keen towards implementation of the universal healthcare policy. Healthcare is necessary for everybody in order to have healthy lives. Nevertheless, the universal healthcare policy is yet to be implemented with many arguing that the policy will significantly derail the budget (Malhotra 13).

In addition, the government through relevant bodies is responsible for employment of qualified medical practitioners to cater to the healthcare needs of its citizenry. Through relevant government owned or accredited universities medical practitioners are provided education and training. Thus, the government should  ideally handle healthcare matters.

In conclusion, relevant documentation required at most hospitals are provided by the government. This documentation such as identity cards, etc. is used for verification and identification purposes in healthcare institutions. The government being the main tax collector has the capacity to implement viable programs aimed at bolstering healthcare in any country.

References

Malhotra, U. Solving the American Healthcare Crisis. Universe Publishers, 2010

Berwick, D. Five Years After To Err Is Human:  What Have We Learned? Journal of the   American Medical Association, 293 (19) 2005: 84–90.

About the Author:

Joash Ntenga Moitui 

He is a fellow at the Pan-African University, Institute of Governance and Social Sciences. His areas of expertise include policy analysis, global policy, leadership and management, research, governance and regional integration, leadership and social- economic policy. He has worked with research think-tanks in advancing research in these fields.